Modification of the properties of synthetic fibres



United States Patent MODIFICATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF SYNTHETIC FIBRES John Woolley Batty, Albert Ewart Henshall, and Harold Sagar, Manchester, England, assignors to Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, London, England, a corporation of Great Britain N0 Drawing. Filed Feb. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 641,827 Claims priority, application Great Britain'Mar. 7, 1956 6 Claims. (Cl. 117138.8)

This invention relates to modification of the properties of synthetic fibres and the modified synthetic fibres so obtained.

Certain synthetic fibres, especially those prepared from polyesters or polyamides or from cellulose acetate, show a tendency to accumulate a charge of static electricity during manufacturing operations, such as carding, spinning or weaving. It is with such synthetic fibres, that this invention is concerned; We have found that by a simple treatment, this undesirable tendency can be very considerably reduced. I

Thus according to the present invention we provide a process for modifying the properties of synthetic fibres in particular for reducing the tendency thereof to accumulate a charge of static electricity, which comprises treating the fibres with a condensation product of from one to three molecular proportions of a fatty acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine previously condensed with from 3-40 molecular-proportions of ethylene oxide. Fatty acids for use in the manufacture of the condensation products used in the process of this invention include oleic, stearic and lauric acids.

The treatment of the synthetic fibres according to the process of this invention may be achieved by any convenient means, for example by spraying the fibres with an aqueous or organic liquid solution of the condensation product or by immersing or padding the fibres in such a solution. The .treatment may be at normal or elevated temperature. The impregnated fibres after removal from the treatment bath may be dried at any suit-able temperature, from room temperature upto about 150 C.

The amountofcondensation product deposited on the fibre may be from .05 to 1% by weight of the fibre.

The synthetic fibres to be treated may be in any form, such as yarn or fabric.

The condensation products used in the process of this invention are preferably liquid. It is frequently found that anti-static processing acids hitherto employed, being of a solid or waxy nature, tend to be scraped off the fibre, or to be deposited on the processing machinery, or on healds or guides so that an erratic performance is obtained which leads to subsequent spinning and weaving irregularities. These disadvantages are obviated or minimised when liquid agents are used, since the agent is present in the form of a uniform film on the fibre.

The invention is illustrated but not limited by the following examples in which parts and percentages are by weight.

The anti-static elfect produced by the treatments in the examples was determined by measurement of the charge developed on rubbing the treated fabric against a Botany wool serge surface in the manner described in American Dyestufi Reporter, volume 40, No. 5, page 164, the charge being expressed in terms of current (measured in arbitrary units) in the peak voltmeter circuit. In all cases the fabrics were dried and conditioned prior to testing.

EXAMPLE 2 Example 1 was repeated, using a condensation product of one molecular proportion of lauric' acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine previously condensed with 24 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide.

EXAMPLE 3 Example 1 was repeated, using a nylon fancy weave fabric. EXAMPLE 4 Example 2 was repeated, using a nylon fancy weave fabric. a: EXAMPLE 5 Example 1 was repeated, using a condensation product of three molecular proportions of lauric acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine previously condensed with 24 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide.

EXAMPLE 6 0.1% of a condensation product of one molecular proportion of lauric acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine previously condensed with 24 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide was applied to a cellulose acetate satin fabric by padding. The result is given in Table I.

Table 1 STATIC CHARGE MEASUREMENTS [Relative Humidity: 65% at 21 0.]

I I Static Charge Treatment as in Fabric Example Maximum Time to fall Charge to half value developed in seconds 1 Polyethylene 280 1 terephthalate. 2. d0 l 3. Nylon. 12 l 4-- do 8 1 5 Polyethylene 128 1 tere phthalate 6 Cellulose ace- 10 1 tate. Untreated fabric Polyethylene 2,300 32 terephthalate. Untreated fabric Nylon 1,400 12 Untreated fabric Cellulose ace- 310 28 tate.

EXAMPLE 7 0.15% of a condensation product of one molecular proportion of lauric acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine previously condensed with 22 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide was applied to nylon staple fibre (1 /2 inch, 1 /2 denier) from aqueous solution by spraying. After conditioning for 48 hours at 65% relative humidity at 21 C., the staple fibre was processed on a conventional revolving flat card followed by passage through a draw frame of the type used for processing cotton and the resulting slivers spun to yarn (60s cotton count) on a high draft ring frame. v

Regular yarns of good strength were produced.

of stearic acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine previously condensedwith 12 molecular proportions of e hy en o de e results re ven in T l 2,-

EXAMPLE Example 8 was repeated using a nylon staple fibre fabric. i

a MPL 1O 1 Example 1 was epeated using a condensation product of oleic acid with one molecularproportion of glycerine previously condensed with 18 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide.

E AMPLE, 11 I I Exam le r peated usin a nylon. S ap fibre fabric. U

EXAMBLB 12 Example 1 was repeated using a, condensation product of stearic acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine previously condensed with 13 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide.

EXAMPLE 13 v Example. 12 was repeated, usinga nylon staple, fibre fabric. 7 e

" Table 2 s'm'rro cannon MEASUREMENTS" [Relative Humidity: 65% at 21- 4 previously condensed with 24 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide.

Example 14 was repeated using a nylon staple fibre fabric. i

EXAMPLE 16 Example 1 was repeated using a condensation product of oleic acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine previously condensed with 36. molecular proportions of ethylene oxide.

EXAMPLE 17.

late static electricity on synthetic fibers, normally subject to such accumulation which comprises treating said fibers with a liquid, water-soluble condensation product of from one to three molecular proportionsof a higher saturated fatty acid with one molecular proportionof glycerine previously condensed in, theabsenee of water with from 3-40 molecular proportions of ethylene oxide.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said fibers; comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters and polyamides].

' 3. Theprocess of claim 1, herein said fibers comprise cellulose acetate. e 7

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said higher saturated fatty acid contains from 12 to 18 carbon atoms.-

5. Process for modifying the properties ofjsynthetic fibers as claimed in claimv 1 wherein the amount ofi condensation product deposited'on the fiber is from .05 to 1% by weight of the fiber.

6. A process forminimizing the tendency to accumulate static electricity on polyethylene terephthalate fibers normally subject to such accumulation which comprises StatieOharge Treatment as in Fabric 7 Example Maximum Time to fall Charge to half value developed" in secon s 8 Polyethylene 300 1.'

terephthalate. Nylon 340 1. Polyethylene 305 .1.

terephthalate. Nylon 355 1. Polyethylene 330 1.

terephthalate. Nylon 249 1. Polyethylene 295' 1.

terephthalate. Nylon 210 l. Polyethylene 260 l.

terephthalate. 17 Nylon 1. Untreated fabric Polyethylene 4,000 greaterthan V terephthalate. 180. Untreated fabric Nylon 2,050 32.

EXAMPLE 14 Example 1 was repeated using a condensation product of stearic acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine treating said fibers with, a liquid,,water-soluble condensation product of from one to three molecular proportions of a higher saturated-fatty acid with one molecular proportion of glycerine, previously condensed in the absence of water with from 3-40 molecular prop rtions of ethylene oxide, theamount of condensation product deposited on the fiber being from .0510 1% by weight of thefiber.-

References Cited inthe file ofjthis pat ent UNITED STATES PAT NTS 2,418,752 Brown Apr. 8, 1947 2,450,079 Brown A V V. Sept; 28, 1948 2,461,043; Eisen Feb. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 4. 7

38 31 Gre Britain Sept. 1;, 1932 

1. A PROCESS FOR MINIMIZING THE TENDENCY TO ACCUMULATE STATIC ELECTRICITY ON SYNTHETIC FIBERS NORMALLY SUBJECT TO SUCH ACCULULATION WHICH COMPRISES TREATING SAID FIBERS WITH A LIQUID, WATER-SOLUBLE CONSENSATION PRODUCT OF FROM ONE TO THREE MOLECULAR PROPORTIONS OF A HIGHER SATURATED FATTY ACID WITH ONE MOLECULAR PROPORTION OF GLYCERINE PREVIOUSLY CONDENSED IN THE ABSENCE OF WATER WITH FROM 3-40 MOLECULAR PROPORTIONS OF ETHYLENE OXIDE. 